Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Teens

Over the past 50 years the prevalence of adolescent psychiatric disorders has risen substantially. According to the US Surgeon General’s Report (2000), at least 6 to 9 million youth have diagnosable mental illnesses that impair their functioning at home, school, and in relationships. The US Public Health Service found that only 20% of youth with mental disorders are receiving the mental health services they need. Half of all students 14 and older who have a mental illness drop out of high school, the highest drop-out rate for any disability group. The responsibility for assisting teens with psychological difficulties rests with mental health, medical, and educational institutions. This chapter describes a recently developed mindfulness-based intervention for teenagers with promising support that can be implemented in all of these settings.